Self braking bldc motor

Abstract

A device may include a rotor and a stator comprising a plurality of stator windings. A device may include at least one motor brake comprising at least one brake winding, wherein the at least one motor brake is configured to move between a disengaged position when the at least one brake winding is energized, and an engaged position when the at least one brake winding is de-energized, wherein the at least one motor brake inhibits a rotation of the rotor when in the engaged position. A device may include a drive circuit configured to deliver the power from the power source to the stator and to the at least one brake winding, wherein the drive circuit is configured to deliver power to the at least one brake winding, wherein the at least one brake winding is energized when the stator is energized.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system, comprising:
 an electric motor comprising:
 a rotor; 
 a stator comprising: 
 a ring-shaped body: 
 a plurality of stator poles coupled to the ring-shaped body; and 
 a plurality of stator windings, wherein each stator winding of the plurality of stator windings is wound about a corresponding stator pole of the plurality of stator poles, wherein the stator is configured to be energized from a power source and operable, upon receiving power, to generate a rotating magnetic field that causes the rotor to rotate; 
 at least one motor brake comprising at least one brake winding, wherein the at least one motor brake is configured to move between a disengaged position when the at least one brake winding is energized, and an engaged position when the at least one brake winding is de-energized, wherein the at least one motor brake inhibits a rotation of the rotor when in the engaged position; and 
 a drive circuit configured to deliver the power from the power source to the stator and to the at least one brake winding, wherein the drive circuit is configured to deliver power to the at least one brake winding, wherein the at least one brake winding is energized when the stator is energized, wherein the at least one brake winding is de-energized when the stator is de-energized. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive circuit delivers three phases of current to the stator and the at least one brake winding, wherein the at least one brake winding is energized upon receiving one or more phases of current. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one motor brake further includes at least one override winding, wherein the at least one motor brake is configured to move between the disengaged position when the at least one override winding is de-energized, and the engaged position when the at least one override winding is energized, wherein when the at least one override winding is energized, the at least one override winding prevents the at least one motor brake from inhibiting the rotation of the rotor. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising an override switch, wherein an activation of the override switch causes the at least one override winding to energize. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the override switch is configured to be activated manually. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one motor brake comprises a solenoid actuator. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one motor brake further comprises a biasing arrangement configured to provide a force that inhibits the rotation of the rotor when the at least one motor brake is in the engaged position. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the biasing arrangement comprises a spring. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises an inrunner electric motor. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one motor brake provides a biasing force directly against the rotor. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one motor brake is coupled to the stator. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one motor brake provides a biasing force directly against the rotor. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a brushless direct current motor. 
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 Supplying power to a drive circuit, wherein the drive circuit:
 delivers the power to a stator, wherein the stator is energized from receiving the power, causing the stator to bias a rotor to rotate; and 
 delivers power to at least one solenoid actuator of at least one motor brake, wherein the at least one solenoid actuator is energized, causing the at least one solenoid actuator to bias a motor brake to a disengaged position, enabling a rotation of the rotor. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising interrupting power to the drive circuit, wherein interrupting power to the drive circuit:
 causes the stator to de-energize; and   causes the at least one solenoid actuator to de-energize, causing the at least one solenoid actuator to bias the at least one motor brake to an engaged position, thereby inhibiting the rotation of the rotor.